Question about an interleukin-6 inhibitor (IL-6 direct implication in MPB process). Anthony and caustic, looking for your help/insight!!

Hey guys, so Interleukin-6 has been directly implicated in the balding process, as directly associated with the inflammatory effects of DHT. Full study with pictures here: http://www.nature.com/jid/jour...df?WT.ec_id=JID-201201

From the summary of another study: Dihydrotestosterone-inducible IL-6 inhibits elongation of human hair shafts by suppressing matrix cell proliferation and promotes regression of hair follicles in mice.

So there has been some talk on ha irlosshelp.com about chapparal extract being a potent IL-6 inhibitor with one user claiming excellent results from it. After doing my own research I have also found that chapparal has been used for many other anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial conditions. So it seems to possess these qualities

My question: there is a study which shows it inhibits serotonin in relation to degranulation of mast cells, but Im trying to figure out if it is isolated to just that or if it would have the general effect of lowering serotonin regardless. I already have a tendency towards depression/stress so you can see my concern here (as well as serotonin being immensely important ofc).

The study is here:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8500985
"Nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) caused complete inhibition of LTC4/D4 generation, and partial inhibition of PGD2 generation and serotonin release."

If I could get some feedback on this from you guys I would be very appreciative! I am pretty interested in trying this chapparal (Chaparral = NDGA = Nordihydroguaiaretic acid ) stuff.

I would like to hear Caustic's opinion on this one, as I am not too researched on serotonin or substances that alter it. One thing I might postulate though is that serotonin tends to be upregulated in chronic inflammatory states (especially related to the gut), and one of the reasons I believe this is the case is that the body gets some type of protective effect from it. Put simply, serotonin recruits certain immune cells at the site of inflammation as part of the immune response.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23243271

The important thing to keep in mind here is the distinction between peripheral and central effects of serotonin. Serotonin has many different effects in the body depending on which tissues you are looking at and which specific type of serotonin receptor (seven or so different types). The peripheral release of serotonin by platelets is part of the inflammatory process. Lowering levels of serotonin in this context is a good thing. Serotonin in this context is bad as it increases levels of the other inflammatory markers and induces CGRP and increases cellular calcium levels. It is also vasoconstrictive. I'd guess that the lowered serotonin was secondary to the reduced inflammation and not a primary effect of the plant. It shouldn't alter brain levels of serotonin.

I'm not too familiar with chapparral. I've only heard it mentioned a few times before. I'll definitely look into it some more, but at first take I'd highly doubt it would be any more of a miracle than some of the other plant sourced compounds we know to be effective, like curcumin and EGCG.

The following is from a post from last year:

Omega-3 fatty acids, such as krill oil, can help suppress the inflammatory prostaglandin called interleukin 6 in response to DHT.

Abundant evidence exists suggesting that prostaglandins can affect the growth of human hair follicles. Prostaglandins are hormone-like molecules that affect inflammation and other necessary processes in the body. The hair follicle cells in balding scalps upregulate the prostaglandin interleukin 6 (IL-6). Interleukin 6 suppresses hair growth by affecting the growth stages (cell proliferation) of hair follicles. [1]

Interleukin 6 is signaled by balding dermal papilla cells, while silent in non-balding cells. Too much IL-6 shortens the growth stages (anagen) and prolongs the sleeping stages (catagen).

In a recent study, medical students were assigned either omega-3 fatty acid supplements or placebo. They were observed for a year to evaluate their stress levels.

It was found that those students who received omega 3 fatty acids had a 14% decrease in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated interleukin 6 (IL-6) production and a 20% reduction in anxiety symptoms when compared to the placebo group. [2]

[1]. J Invest Dermatol. 2011 Sep 1. doi: 10.1038/jid.2011.274
[2]. Brain Behav Immun. 2011 Jul 19.

Interesting about the seratonin connection.

It certainly seems like a bad idea to take fluoxetine (Prozac) for more reasons (now than ever).